WORCESTER - A body found near a wooded area in Sterling on Friday morning resembles a 5-year-old Fitchburg boy who has been missing since September, said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr., in an afternoon press conference.

"We don't have an identification of the body. What we do have is that height and weight of the child we found off route 190 in Sterling is consistent with that of Jeremiah Oliver," Early said.

Speaking in front of Worcester Superior Court, Early said the body appears to be a victim of a homicide but declined to say if there were signs of injury. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy that is expected to be completed as early as today.

The body was "packed in a suitcase-like object" and wrapped in a blanket, said Early. He said it was "somewhat concealed from the elements," but would not elaborate on its condition.

The body was found around 9 a.m. just 40 feet off Interstate 190 in an area where grass is cut. Early would not say how long investigators believe the body had been in that spot, but confirmed it was not visible to passing motorists.

Throughout Friday afternoon investigators could be seen scouring a grassy area along the side of the highway that leads to a tree line. Traffic was reduced to a single lane.

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Early declined to say whether the body was discovered by chance or whether investigators got a tip about its location. He said he could offer few specifics because the case is still under investigation.

Police briefed Jeremiah's father, Jose Oliver, about the discovery but had not spoken to his mother, Elsa Oliver, 28, or her boyfriend, Alberto Sierra, 23, said Early.

Police conduct a search in a wooded area off Interstate 190 in Sterling on Friday. A body was discovered in the area that is reportedly connected to case of missing 5-year-old Fitchburg boy Jeremiah Oliver. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE)

Oliver and Sierra are being held without bail on a variety of charges related to the disappearance of the boy.

Rose Valcourt, the wife of Jeremiah's uncle, Sandrino Oliver, said her husband spoke with a police detective Friday morning who informed him there was an "80 percent chance" the body was his nephew.

"We in our hearts hope it is him so we can have some closure and have this baby at peace," said Valcourt, of Worcester. "We've been going through so much since this happened."

Jeremiah was last seen by relatives in September, but authorities were not made aware of his disappearance until December after his sister told a teacher at Reingold Elementary School in Fitchburg that she and her siblings were being abused at home.

Jeremiah Oliver

The child had bruises on her body and showed signs of neglect, according to court documents.

Jeremiah's mother pleaded not guilty in March to charges including kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and reckless endangerment. Her boyfriend pleaded not guilty to similar charges.

The family was being monitored by state social workers at the time, and the case led to intense scrutiny of the state Department of Children and Families.

Three employees of the agency - a social worker, a supervisor and an area manager - were fired after an internal investigation. Officials said the social worker had not made required monthly visits to the family.

"What we know right now is that a young child has died, and that his body has been disposed of in a heartless way," Gov.

A group of local residents who have conducted weekly searches for Jeremiah Oliver since his disappearance was made public in December prays at a vigil on Kimball Street in Fitchburg on Friday afternoon. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/CHRIS CAMIRE)

Deval Patrick said in a statement Friday. "As we await news about the child's identity, as governor and as a parent, I feel a deep sadness."

Patrick asked the Child Welfare League of America to review DCF but resisted calls from some lawmakers to fire Olga Roche, the agency's commissioner.

In an initial report filed by the league last month, it recommended that Massachusetts take a number of steps to shore up its child welfare system, including boosting staffing levels to reduce social worker caseload.

A separate report from the state's Child Advocate, Gail Garinger, suggested that state social workers missed nearly one in five home visits during a recent 12-month period, though state officials said that figure was likely overstated.

Fitchburg residents observe a moment of silence in front of a vigil created for Jeremiah Oliver on Kimball Street. Standing left to right are Sebastian Otero, 8, Savion Torres, 4, Aracelia Torres, and Gia Alcantara, 8. Alcantara left a teddy bear named Bernie that she has had since she was a baby at the vigil. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/CHRIS CAMIRE)

Roche assured state legislators in January that DCF had accounted for the safety of all other young children in its care.

Oliver and Sierra, who were indicted last month by a Worcester County grand jury, are both being held on high bail - $100,000 for Oliver and $250,000 for Sierra.

Three other people have been charged with interfering with a criminal investigation and misleading police in connection with the case.

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